DDrreeww AA..HHyyllaanndd Y H P O S O L I H P L A T N E N I T N O C Y R A R O P M E QQuueessttiioonniinngg T N O C N I S PPllaattoonniissmm E I R E S Y N CCoonnttiinneennttaall U S E H IInntteerrpprreettaattiioonnss ooff PPllaattoo T N I E M U L O V A QUESTIONING PLATONISM SUNY series in Contemporary Continental Philosophy Dennis J. Schmidt, editor Q U E S T I O N I N G P L A T O N I S M Continental Interpretations of Plato DREW A. HYLAND S U N Y P TATE NIVERSITY OF EW ORK RESS Published by State University of New York Press Albany © 2004 State University of New York All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher. For information, address State University of New York Press 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207 Production by Diane Ganeles Marketing by Fran Keneston Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Hyland, Drew A. Questioning Platonism : continental interpretations of Plato / Drew A. Hyland. p. cm. — (SUNY series in contemporary continental philosophy) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7914-6195-5 1. Plato. 2. Philosophy, Modern—Europe—20th century. I. Title. II. Series. B395.H95 2004 184—dc22 2003064720 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 For my grandchildren: Jake, Aidan, Alexandra, Phoebe, and Drew Contents Preface ix Introduction 1 Chapter One 17 Heidegger’s Plato Chapter Two 85 Derrida’s Plato Chapter Three 123 Irigaray’s Plato Chapter Four 155 Cavarero’s Plato Chapter Five 165 Gadamer’s Plato Notes 185 Bibliography 197 Index 201 vii Preface This book brings together two philosophic interests that have long sustained me: the Platonic dialogues, and so-called continental phi- losophy. Several of the chapters began as papers that I have delivered here and there over the last several years, and I want to acknowledge and thank my many listeners at those occasions for their astute and helpful comments. Since virtually every one of those papers was pre- sented first at Trinity College, I want explicitly to thank my colleagues at Trinity who have always given me their best attention and advice. They are challenging friends indeed. Those friends surely include my students who have participated in courses on one aspect or another of this book. Their challenging questions and comments have aided me immeasurably. Second, several of the early versions of these chapters were presented at meetings of the International Philosophical Seminar at Castelrotto, Italy, in a wonderful setting that always encourages the utmost thoughtfulness. I want to thank all the participants in those meetings for their warm reception and helpful comments, but to single out the founders and co-directors of IPS, Hugh Silverman and Wilhelm Wurtzer, who may have discovered the Platonic Form of Philosophical Conferences. The two anonymous referees who read my manuscript made astute and thought-provoking comments, for which I thank them both. Finally, as always, I acknowledge and thank my wife, Anne, for her support, her love, and her art, which always enriches our lives. ix